INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAM

A Program of Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs, Inc. (BRCWA)


WELCOMING CEREMONY FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS


WHAT IS IT?


BRCWA prepares and conducts a welcoming ceremony for international visitors which takes place in the Mayor-President's conference room, at the Metro Council chamber (for large groups) or in the Old State Capitol boardroom if the other locations are not available.


ARRIVAL


When the international visitors and their local guests/hosts arrive, they are received by a multilingual representative of BRCWA's International Visitors' Program and welcomed by an official representative of the City of Baton Rouge. Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden, if his schedule allows, or one of his staff members conducts the meeting, possibly joined by a member of the Metro Council.


PRESENTATION


Each visitor is presented with an Honorary Mayor's Certificate, a special pin and an information packet created in collaboration with the Baton Rouge Convention and Visitors' Bureau and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. The Baton Rouge Area fact sheet contained in the packet will be available in various foreign languages in the near future.
Presentations are made in English and, whenever possible, also in the visitors' native language.


FLAG RAISING CEREMONY


Following the presentation, the group goes outside to a special flagpole where the visitors are invited to raise the flag of their country which will remain in place for the day.


FOLLOW-UP


Photos are taken to record each step of the ceremony. BRCWA mails a CD as a lasting souvenir to the visitors after their return to their home country.


WHY?


This unique ceremony, begun in 1989, has proven to be a valuable marketing tool for the City. Internationals appreciate the gesture of being received by officials of a city the size of Baton Rouge and will remember the honor; in most other countries this kind of access is not possible.
For many years, before Hurricane Katrina, more than 600 visitors from 30+ countries were received annually.
BRCWA owns flags of more than 150 countries.


WHO QUALIFIES?


Any international visitor is encouraged to request the welcoming ceremony. The ceremony is conducted honoring any individual international visitor or group who has chosen Baton Rouge as a destination for personal, business, educational or cultural purposes.


HOW TO APPLY?


The local contact or host of the expected visitor may request the ceremony. The request should be placed at least two weeks prior to arrival, preferably by email, using the application form displayed on BRCWA's website.

 

 


Click HERE for the Ceremony Request Form!

 

 

Visitors from China hosted by Southern University

Raising the Chinese flag

Irma Plummer, Office of the Mayor-President, presents Honorary Mayor’s Certificate

Student group from China hosted by Nacel Open Door Program

Bosnian visitor raises the flag of his country

Visitors from European Union countries raise the EU flag as part of the European Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program

Left to right: Marie Christine Tardy, Mayor of Meylan, France; Don Hoffman, BRCWA Board Member; Irma Plummer, Office of the Mayor-President

Visitors from Meylan, France, Sister City of Gonzales, Louisiana

Flag of Kenya

Visitors from Malawi

Flag of Malawi